Blaze News - Pakistan

The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has sent the PC-2 worth Rs54.9 million to solve the long-standing and complex problems of Nullah Leh to the Punjab government for approval. The revised feasibility study of the project involves the efficient diversion of sewage, anti-flood steps and alternative traffic routes between the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad permanently. The Nullah Leh has been causing environmental pollution and flooding in Rawalpindi for the last several years. The PC II has been dispatched to the provincial Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and final approval of PC-2 will be taken from the Planning and Development department. Earlier, the Rs48.9m worth of PC-2 of the project was limited to sewage diversion only. Sources in the RDA said that upon completion of the feasibility study of the project, the total cost will be spent in three phases as per the consultant's report. In the first phase, the sewage of the city and cantonment will be trans...

Following an alarming rise in hepatitis cases in Rawalpindi's Fauji Colony area, extensive awareness and testing initiatives have been launched to shield residents from the growing health threat. The Local Hepatitis Elimination and Prevention Program (LHEAP) has spearheaded this campaign, introducing testing and vaccination services to diagnose and combat hepatitis effectively. One of the key focal points has been addressing hygiene lapses in establishments like barber shops, dental clinics, and tyre shops along Bokra Road, a bustling business hub adjoining the affected union council. The officials from the LHEAP programme have taken swift action, sealing off eleven barber shops, a dental clinic, and a tyre shop in response to their use of non-sterilised tools. This crackdown is part of a broader effort to enforce cleanliness protocols and mitigate the spread of hepatitis within the community. The prevalence of hepatitis in Fauji Colony has been alarming, with roughly one in every ...

The Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department Punjab has recommended departmental action against the Medical Superintendent of Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Gujar Khan and other staff for being declared guilty of misconduct and dereliction of duty. The hospital is currently working under the District Health Authority (DHA). The action has been recommended against the MS under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline, and Accountability (PEEDA) Act, while the action has also been recommended against the hospital's junior pharmacy technician, female pharmacist, in-charge nurse and pharmacy manager under departmental rules. A warning has also been issued to the female head nurse, the director of emergency and a doctor not to show any neglect in their duties in future. Earlier, departmental action was proposed against the said officials by the Khushab Chief Executive Officer under the PEEDA Act. In a complaint filed by one Qamar Shehzad, the attendant of patient Sabir H...

The District Health Authority (DHA) has swung into action against mushroom growth of quacks on footpaths, roads and streets, and in neighbourhoods of the city and the rest of the district. These quacks are seen treating eye, tooth, nose, ear, throat, stomach, liver and kidney diseases at the cost of human health. And often uneducated and less-educated segment of society falls prey to these unqualified medical practitioners and so-called herbalists. The visitors are generally unaware that the quacks don't cure the illness properly and the latter become victims of even more dangerous diseases due to hazardous treatment, non-sterilised instruments, and consumption of spurious medicines. The quakes treat eyes with traditional medical substances, leading to acute infections like visual impairment. Similarly, in the treatment of teeth, the use of non-sterilised equipment and chemicals for cleaning and placing new teeth could expose the patient to the risk of contracting hepatitis. Simila...

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a soft loan (loan at a low-interest rate) funding of Rs33.5 billion for three mega water supply projects to enable an additional 17 million gallons of water supply per day to the garrison city. These projects have already been approved by the federal government's forum – the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC). It is estimated that a population of 940,000 will benefit from these water supply projects and after their commissioning, completion and up-gradation, they will be run on solar energy. According to sources, the residents of Rawalpindi City currently require 68 million gallons of water per day, while the available water is 51 million gallons per day. The citizens are, therefore, facing problems due to the shortage of 17 million gallons of water per day and the falling level of underground water. In addition, the situation of water supply through tube wells is such that it takes at least 16 tube wells to pu...